by Lily Hayden
Ella stared after her as she breezed from the store. The woman at the counter had to call Ella’s order twice before she even heard her. The blood was pounding in her ears at Roxy’s revelations. She didn’t doubt what the woman had said. Roxy struck Ella as somebody who was painfully honest. She had a no-nonsense air to her and, besides, Ella had seen enough of Sawyer, Macy and Caleb’s ugly sides to know that the story was plausible. She took the sandwich and the drink from the woman, thanked her and walked out onto the street.
She was furious. Absolutely raging mad. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this angry. Sawyer had been throwing herself at Jason. She’d ended things with the nicest, most handsome man she’d ever met and got into bed with that piece of shit, slimy, misogynistic asshole Caleb. Who, by the sounds of it, had headed straight to that sly bitch Macy for comfort. Whatever way it had played out, Ella knew one thing for sure.
She was so fucking done.
Her hire car was in the parking lot next to the office building, but her keys were back at her desk. She was shaking with anger and frustration. The thought of having to face the collection of nasty bitches…
Wait. Actually, that’s exactly what she wanted to do.
Ella had heard the phrase “seeing red” before, but she had never experienced the feeling. She marched determined strides towards the office. She could see and feel nothing except the white mist of fury that wrapped her every sense. She pulled the door, almost yanking it from its hinges as she blazed through the reception area, ignoring the smiley-faced woman who called a cheery greeting.
Fuck Henley Steelson and fuck those nasty little Marketing bitches.
She jabbed at the call button of the elevator, shifting her weight restlessly from foot to foot. She was running on pure adrenaline. Weeks of confusion, isolation and hurt had driven her to boiling point. This was no time for thinking. She was done with the incessant whine of her inner voice. She was so over putting herself through the heartache of feeing lonely.
Once in the elevator, she eyeballed her own reflection fiercely. The woman who looked back at her was as far detached from bubbly, popular College Ella as she had been from her High School persona. She emerged from the elevator feeling pumped and ready to have it out with Sawyer and Macy. As she turned into the office, she heard them before she saw them.
“…Such a fucking waste!” Sawyer was saying, her voice dripping with disdain. “He clearly can’t handle a real woman. Likes them boring and needy like that little…”
Ella stepped into the room, face like thunder.
“Like that little what?”
Sawyer was sat down, legs stretched out resting on Ella’s desk. Macy was perched on the edge of the desk. Jessica was nowhere to be seen and Joelle was working at her desk with her back to the others.
Sawyer reddened slightly at the sight of Ella and had the good grace to remove her legs quickly from Ella’s desk.
“We were just talking about some hoe.” She replied quickly, with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Nothing you need to worry yourself over.”
Ella caught Macy smirking and she spun around to face her.
“Caleb says he caught something from you.”
She didn’t know where her words came from, but they had the desired effect of wiping the smug look from Macy’s face. From the corner of her eye, she saw Joelle’s shoulders shake and she coughed, disguising a bark of laughter.
“What?” The colour drained from Macy’s face before she recovered and stood up, squaring up to Ella. “That’s bullshit.”
Ella shrugged, feeling the anger lift slightly at the ridiculousness of the situation.
“That’s what he said.”
Macy glanced at Sawyer, looking for back-up. Ella could see she had riled her. Macy wasn’t sure whether to deny the veiled accusation or defend her own honour. Her mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, and Ella turned away from her, already seeking a sharper-witted opponent. Macy’s reaction had confirmed that that part of the story was true. Ella honed back in on Sawyer.
“And Roxy says,” Ella decided that Roxy was more than capable of standing up for herself if ever Sawyer was dumb enough to challenge her. “Stop harassing Jason Stephens. Apparently, he doesn’t go for hoes.”
Sawyer’s eyes narrowed, and she flew to her feet angrily.
“Who the fuck are you calling a hoe?”
Joelle span around in her chair, sensing trouble.
“Sawyer, cool it.”
Sawyer snapped her head around to Joelle, her eyes flashing with fury.
“Me? Tell her!”
Ella smiled to herself. Suddenly, she was feeling a lot calmer.
Joelle glanced nervously at Ella. Ella met her gaze with a cool questioning smile. She had no beef with Joelle, except for the trashy company she kept.
“Well,” Joelle looked back at Sawyer. “You did kinda harass the man.”
Ella watched with detached amusement as Sawyer’s face flushed a beetroot red in a combination of anger and embarrassment.
“You’re just saying that because he dumped your ugly ass!” Sawyer shrieked, losing all self-control. “Jason Stephens is a fucking piece of trash and he didn’t even want you.”
Ella felt her hand extend so involuntarily that she didn’t even realise she had done it until the double-shot hazelnut soy frappe was dripping from Sawyer’s angry, hateful face. Ella’s mouth fell open, shocked at her own action, before she fully absorbed Sawyer’s dazed expression.
“They’ll fucking fire you for this!” Sawyer screeched.
Ella grabbed a box of tissues from the desk and thrust them at Macy’s chest.
“No need.” She smiled sweetly. “I’d rather be unemployed than work with you bitches.”
She realised she had no interest in their response and with that, she swept up her belongings and spun out of the office.
Falling
Taylor had only been in love once. She had been dizzy, crazy, head-over-heels obsessed with Deon Francis and, God knows, she had felt like her heart had shattered when they had broken up. Shattered badly enough to put her off ever putting her heart on the line again for a mere man. Just the memory of the hurt and the betrayal she had felt and, even worse, the humiliation had been enough to lock up her feelings and throw away the key, but somehow Noah had snuck under her defences and ignited something inside her that felt a lot like love.
For the next few days, she felt like she was existing in a bubble of happiness. Finally dressed and back on dry land, Noah had held her in his arms and the contented, tender look in his eyes had made her melt. Taylor knew instinctively that Noah was, like her, naturally cynical of anyone who claimed to have instant, intense connections, yet, without saying it, that was exactly what this was. They were discreet and professional around the others without hiding their attraction. They could both feel the heady, once-in-a-lifetime connection and they both knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that the other felt it too.
Their first time together, out in the boat, had been amazing and for the next few days, neither of them could get enough of each other. Noah lived alone in a single storey clapboard house not far from the yard where Taylor had helped him evict her first gator. Taylor, unlike her family, had no interest in interior design and it was almost a relief to see Noah’s home was an extension of him: practical, masculine and unpretentious. Noah had invited her home to eat with him, but their desire was more pressing than their hunger.
In the hallway, he had pulled her into his arms, peeling away her shirt and covering her body in the most delicious exploratory kisses. Taylor let her head fall back as his lips worked their magic, grazing her delicate skin. He turned her easily in his strong arms, his mouth finding the sensitive curve of her lower back causing her to gasp with pleasure. He sunk to his knees, looking up at her from beneath a sweep of blonde hair, his eyes sparkling with an irresistible combination of happiness and desire. She felt her mouth widen, unable to control the smile that lit up he
r face. She reached down, smoothing the hair from his eyes and pressing her own lips against his forehead.
The silly grins, the sparkling eyes. Taylor felt her heart was physically expanding to fit all these little moments with Noah. For her, this was a whole new level of intimacy: letting Noah into her heart.
She straightened back up, but kept her fingers curled in his hair, murmuring encouragement as he slowly unbuttoned her pants and tugged them down. She stepped out of her jeans, kicking them to the side and he rose to his feet, sweeping her up in his arms and depositing her gently on his kitchen worktop. He bent his head, kissing the soft curves rising from the cups of her black lace bra. She pulled his head back towards him, unable to resist bringing her mouth to his for one long, tantalising kiss before she let him continue to slow, lazy descent down her body.
His strong, rough hands felt like heaven against her skin as his mouth worked its magic, but it was the way he looked up at her that drove her wild. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of her panties and she lifted her hips, desperate to feel his mouth there too. He slipped the tiny scrap of silk away, but surprised her again, scooping her naked body up and holding her tightly to his still-clothed chest.
She giggled with delight as he buried his face in her neck before spinning her around.
“Hey!” She laughed, feeling deliriously dizzy with the motion and with happiness. “Put me down. You haven’t finished!”
His laugh was easy and carefree at her response and he stopped spinning, pausing to look at her for a moment before bowing his head to her lips again. He held her there for what could have been just a moment or could have been an eternity. Time meant nothing to either of them in their enchanted bubble. He carried her through to his bedroom, pulling back the sheets one-handed with her still cradled against his chest.
“Which side?”
“Huh?” Taylor looked up into his eyes, feeling her heart jolt at his words.
He grinned down at her bashfully and that, paired with the crinkle at the corner of his eyes made her heart almost burst.
“Which side?” He repeated, but this time she could sense a little hesitation in his words, as if he was regretting putting himself out there.
She regarded the no-nonsense king-sized bed for a moment and pointed.
“Left.”
He placed her gently down on her chosen pillow and before he could release her, she pulled him down on top of her, catching his lip between her teeth gently.
“This is mine now.” She growled gently against his mouth, loving the feel of his tight muscular body against her. “And so are you.”
His moan was enough to confirm that this was what he wanted, and he rewarded her reassurance by carefully working his way back down her body, aiming for the hot naked skin between her legs where his tongue found a perfect rhythm, making her rock against his mouth in ecstasy. Her fingers gripped the sheet as he drove her to the very edge of pleasure before pulling away, prolonging the build-up.
Taylor pulled him back up to her, running her hands over the thick sinewy muscles of his shoulders, working out the knots with her fingers. He groaned in appreciation, burying his face in her neck. She slipped down the pillow, opening her legs to accommodate him. She felt his hardness pressing against her and, desperately, she searched for his lips again as he slipped effortlessly inside her. His tongue flicked lightly against hers and she felt herself bursting with pleasure at the sensation of him filling her body completely. Her hands couldn’t get enough of his solidness, running over and over his powerful physique as they moved together with a sweet urgency. When he came, she wrapped her legs tightly around him in a vice-like grip, holding him inside her, not able to let him go.
She felt his body relax against her and, still inside her, he pulled them both so that they were lying side-by-side, legs still entangled. Exhausted and slick with sweat, he wrapped his arms around her and held her against his chest. She sighed happily and snuggled up close to him.
This was the part when she usually couldn’t get out of bed quick enough, but as she relaxed into his arms, she couldn’t have been any happier. They lay like that for a little while, before Taylor felt herself begin to stir again in response to his feather-light kisses. She slipped from him, twisting her way down his body, her hungry mouth blazing kisses over his chest and taut abdomen. Her eyes lit up as she saw him respond, growing instantly harder, and she covered his thick shaft with her mouth, running her tongue over him until he buried his hands in her hair, murmuring her name.
The hot saltiness of their combined juices stimulated her senses and she moistened the head of his erection with her lips. She looked up at him from beneath the tangle of her braids finding those soulful blue eyes, and the sheer eroticism of her beautiful face had him grabbing a fistful of the bedsheets, barely able to restrain himself. She kept her eyes fixed on his as she pushed away the sheets, exhibiting her smooth, sleek nakedness for him to see as she kissed and sucked him until he was at the edge of oblivion. His hands were wild, running over every curve of her heavenly body and she felt herself growing hot with anticipation once again. He pulled her on top of him, plunging himself deep within her and she cried out in pure pleasure at the sensation. She writhed lustfully against him and he slipped a hand between her legs, rubbing her in her hot, sweet spot until she was uncontrollable with excitement. He held back until he felt her tighten and spasm around him, her eyes rolling back and her body shaking fiercely as she came, and it was only then that he let his pleasure burst its banks and meet her.
They couldn’t get enough of one another. They spent most of that night alternating between exploring one another’s bodies and talking deep into the night, munching on snacks that Noah made them to keep their strength up. They woke together at sunrise, entangled in one another’s arms, smiling with sleepy happiness as they slipped easily into slow and easy lovemaking. Noah made them breakfast and drove her home to change before they headed back to work, switching back easily into their professional personas before they went back home together, repeating their routine.
Taylor was exhausted from late nights and early mornings, but she was existing on the delicious adrenaline of their feelings for one another. They had managed to find a gap in their exhilarating love-making to get around to completing Taylor’s online application for the programme to join Noah in Costa Rica in a couple of months. He had already spoken to his contact and they were more than happy for her to submit her interest. The placement was only for a couple of months, but it sounded perfect. Although it was still early days in their relationship, they were already planning their next adventure; both keen to see the world and make a difference. Noah’s new boss had promised him he’d let her know as soon as possible and Taylor couldn’t help but keep checking her phone as she moved around the centre towards the end of the week.
She noticed her battery was running low and cursed herself. She’d gone from being permanently attached to the device to barely glancing at it since she and Noah had got together, but she’d clearly forgotten to put it on charge at Noah’s last night.
“Has anyone got a charger?” She called over to her colleagues, who were winding down to break for lunch.
“I might have one in the van.” Hanna called over, and Taylor flashed her a smile of thanks before darting off to the parking lot.
It took her a while to find the cable in the mess of the communal van and, mildly disgusted with the state her roommates had let it get into, she grabbed a carrier bag and started to tidy away the trash. She was carrying the brimming bag over to the trash can outside the building when she heard footsteps pounding on the gravel behind her. Startled, she spun around, catching a flash of white and blonde next to Noah’s van before the door slammed, the engine roared to life and the vehicle tore out of the lot.
What the hell?
Confused, she stood staring after him. He was driving faster than he usually did and she darted back into the centre. What the hell had happened for him to whizz off
without saying goodbye? She glanced at her phone, but the battery was blinking on 1% and she knew she’d have to charge it before she tried to call him.
The group of interns were sat huddled together on the battered couch in the little office area, chatting in animated low voices. Taylor pushed the door open and they turned towards the noise. Their chatter fell away to an uncomfortable hush.
“Everything ok?” Taylor asked taking in their uncomfortable expressions.
A bubble of panic formed in the pit of Taylor’s stomach. Something was wrong with Noah.
Hanna was the only one who met Taylor’s eyes. The rest looked away uneasily and Taylor moved towards them on unsteady feet.
“What’s the matter?” She persisted, her words tumbling out in a rush. “Is something wrong with Noah? What’s happened?”
Hanna paled, but she extended her hand and passed Taylor her iPhone.
Taylor looked down at the screen and frowned. She didn’t know what she had been expecting, but this wasn’t it. A long shot of a sleek, white yacht on an aquamarine ocean. She squinted at the headline.
Venice’s New Man Caught Red-Handed.
“What?” Taylor looked back up at Hanna, not understanding what some rap chick had to do with Noah’s sudden exit.
“Read on.” Hanna grimaced.
“The hottest new female in rap Venice has been seen stepping out with NYC music producer Deon Francis for several months but has refused to confirm or deny their relationship.
A source on set at the filming of Venice’s multi-million-dollar music video revealed the triple-platinum star has been getting pretty serious about Francis, 25, but an eagle-eyed fan spotted Francis getting hot and heavy with a sexy red-bikini clad model aboard a party this weekend for Scandinavian model, Ana Skold’s birthday.
The pictures have blown up online, with trolls retweeting Venice the images of her man getting XXX-rated steamy with the woman, who has been identified as the younger sister of Corey and Maia Mitchell.
